A second-year cybersecurity student and U.S. Army veteran became a member of the AACC Board of Trustees in July.

Devin Keller, 27, replaced former student trustee Rachel Gwin, a nursing student.

“I think being a student trustee is a great way for me to represent the student view on the board,” Keller said. “It’s an honor and privilege to have the position.”

The student trustee has a vote on the eight-member Board of Trustees, which makes governing decisions for the college.

Student Engagement Director Amberdawn Cheatham said Keller will attend board meetings and community events, and will assist AACC President Dawn Lindsay in several of her initiatives.

“So he’ll be very active in serving as a leader,” Cheatham said.

According to Keller, Kenneth Gilliard, the Student Achievement and Success Program retention adviser, recommended that he become a student trustee.

“I didn’t know too much about the higher echelons of a university or college,” Keller said. “I did not have plans of joining the Board of Trustees prior. … I wasn’t sure exactly if I had the qualifications. I mean, just meeting some of the other board members and talking to them, they are people with years of experience, degrees and other successful achievements.”

Keller said his goal is to “do the role justice.”

“I’ve been told about Board of Trustees members before me that have done a great job. For example, there was this guy, Conor [Curran], who was the [student] Board of Trustees [member] two years ago, and they’re still talking about him. So obviously, he did an outstanding job,” Keller said.

Keller said one of his strongest skills is communication.

“I think I would be great at articulating what the students need and want,” Keller said. “I think I might be a better translator than potentially Board of Trustees members in the past, as that’s one of my strong suits.”

Cheatham said it was a “very easy choice” to select Keller as the student trustee.

“Devin has an amazing skill set,” Cheatham said. “He’s a military veteran and he also has a passion for just understanding what impacts the student population. He is a student leader.”

Cheatham added: “I’m excited for our student body … excited about him serving and sharing the perspective of our students and our military veterans.”

Gov. Wes Moore officially appointed Keller to the board this summer.